Internet Explorer users: warning

[Bonafide]

This was blogged today on yahoo's tech ... thought it might interests a few.

The major press outlets are abuzz this morning with news of a major new security flaw that affects all versions of Internet Explorer from IE5 to the latest beta of IE8. The attack has serious and far-reaching ramifications -- and they're not just theoretical attacks. In fact, the flaw is already in wide use as a tool to steal online game passwords, with some 10,000 websites infected with the code needed to take advantage of the hole in IE.

Virtually all security experts (as well as myself) are counseling users to switch to any other web browser -- none of the others are affected, including Firefox, Chrome, and Opera -- at least for the time being, though Microsoft has stubbornly said it "cannot recommend people switch due to this one flaw." Microsoft adds that it is working on a fix but has offered no ETA on when that might happen. Meanwhile it offers some suggestions for a temporary patch, including setting your Internet security zone settings to "high" and offering some complicated workarounds. (Some reports state, however, that the fixes do not actually work.)

Expedient patching or switching are essential. Security pros fear that the attack will soon spread beyond the theft of gaming passwords and into more criminal arenas, as the malicious code can be placed on any website and can be adapted to steal any password stored or entered using the browser. It's now down to the issue of time: Will Microsoft repair the problem and distribute a patch quickly enough to head off the tsunami of fraud that's about to hit or will it come too late to do any good?

Meanwhile, I'll reiterate my recommendation: Switch from Internet Explorer as soon as you can. You can always switch back once the threat is eliminated.

 

[1087]

I use Netscape or Mozilla for a long time, I wonder why?

 

[ivar]

Meanwhile, I'll reiterate my recommendation: Switch from Internet Explorer as soon as you can. You can always switch back once the threat is eliminated.

Why switch back?

BTW, I'm using the Opera browser , works great. www.opera.com

 

[DandyDoug]

I'm a computer dummy , how do you change from Explorer to another browser ?
When I got my new computer it came with Vista and Explorer already on it and I don't have a clue how or what to do to change it.
I did spend a "LONG" time with tech support from Dell on two ocassions in the past month and bought a Norton program from them , I think it's called a firewall.
Lately when I am on any Delphi site it sort of locks up and I get a message that requires me to exit and close the program.
Bloody thing makes my blood pressure go up.

 

[Bonafide]

Mozilla (an others) will give you a free copy of their browsers - Mozilla's is called Firefox. Goto http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/ - then click on download for free. Follow directions from there. Afterwards, dont open Internet Explorer when want to view the internet - open your firefox browser.

 

[KingBear]

I need to move all my favorites from Explorer to Firefox, then I'll be set. I'm such a pathetic creature of habit.

 

[ivar]

I think both opera and firefox has a feature that lets you import ie bookmarks automagically. To change to a new browser, go to one of the above mentioned sites and download it, then install and then just click on the new icon on the desktop instead of that ol' blue 'e'

 

[koifarm]

Hey Bonafide,
Thanks for the heads up, firefox now installed and will dump IE for sure.
I'd heard something about this situation yesterday but thanks to your lowdown on it, I've made the change....Nasty stuff those virus's. It will be interesting to see if IE survives with everyone dumping it....
koi

 

[ivar]

As long as Micro$oft keeps pushing it, it will survive.
But , its a good thing for the web that they get more competition.

 

[KingBear]

All done. I updated to Firefox 3.0.5 and copied over all my bookmarks. Bye-bye to MS Explorer.

 

[Kirkus51]

Being a mac user i don't worry too much about this stuff. Oddly my "old" mac's
safari quit working for various things so now I use firefox on it, but my
safari works just fine on my "new" mac.

By the way, OOVOO.com is cool if you have people overseas you want to talk to AND see.

 

[koifarm]

Heard from a friend who is a systems manager for the Univ of Alabama that microsoft has put out a good patch for the problem, it should be automatically updated when you turn on your computer and open IE up.
Personally I'm staying with firefox for a while till it's fully sorted out.

 

[ivar]

microsoft has put out a good patch for the problem, it should be automatically updated when you turn on your computer and open IE up.

Until the next gaping security hole is found.

BTW, there's secutity holes in the other browsers too, but usually nowhere as serious as the IE holes - and since they're not tied into Windows like IE, the impact when these are exploited is much smaller

 

[Hedge]

Windows Update will resolve this issue. Just open up a Internet Explorer and go to Tools Drop down menu and select Windows Update. Follow all of the default prompts and you will get all of the current patches and updates. You can also set your computer to go out to the Internet every night at 3am and sniff around for anything new and automatically update it and re-boot your computer while your sleeping. Just go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, Automatic Updates and select the Automatic option and choose the frequency and time of your sniffing. So easy "Even a Caveman can do it!"